A successful international law enforcement operation, led by German authorities with support from Europol, the FBI, and various European national police forces, has resulted in the dismantling of two major hacking forums, multiple arrests, and the seizure of cash and cryptocurrency.

“Operation Talent” conducted from January 28 to 30 led to the arrest of two individuals, the search of seven properties, seizure of 17 servers and over 50 electronic devices, and the confiscation of around 300,000 euros and cryptocurrency. The operation targeted the forums Cracked and Nulled, known for facilitating cybercrime with over 10 million users collectively.

These forums acted as hubs for illegal activities, providing access to stolen data, malware, and hacking tools. Investigators estimate criminal profits of EUR 1 million. The takedown involved seizing 12 domains, shutting down the financial processor Sellix and a hosting provider named StartRDP.

In addition to Europol and the FBI, agencies participating in the operation included the Australian Federal Police, France’s Anti-Cybercrime Office, and various other international law enforcement agencies. This operation follows the closure of BreachForums in April 2023 and the subsequent emergence of Breached as a new platform for cybercriminal activities.

The successful operation signifies a significant blow to the cybercrime underworld, demonstrating the effectiveness of global law enforcement cooperation in combatting illegal online activities.